Finance Girlies: Money Conversations for Gen Z and Millennial Women

Opening a Health Savings Account (HSA) sounds like something that requires hours of research and a dozen decisions. In reality? After putting it off for almost a year, Cassidy finally opened one in eight minutes.

In this episode, we’re sharing exactly how we opened, funded, and invested our HSAs — from choosing a provider to deciding how much to keep in cash versus invest. We also talk about when it makes sense to use your HSA for medical expenses today and when you might choose to let that money grow for the future.

✨ Episode Highlights ✨

• [00:00] Why HSAs can be so powerful — and why investing the money is worth considering
• [03:30] How we chose where to open an HSA and set up contributions
• [06:30] A real-life look at our HSA investments (and realizing we may have some adjustments to make!)
• [09:00] Putting off opening an HSA for almost a year — only to get it done in 8 minutes
• [11:30] Funding and investing an HSA, including how much to keep available in cash
• [13:30] Using your deductible as a guide for deciding how much HSA money to keep in cash
• [15:00] Therapy, menstrual products, and other expenses that may qualify for HSA funds

✨ Resources ✨

• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): The incredible financial tool you may be overlooking  (Finance Girlies episode 54)
• Fidelity HSA
• IRS list of qualified medical expenses

Send us Fan Mail

📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter

💻Visit The Finance Girlies website: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/

💖Email us your money questions: 
[email protected]

📸Follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

It's funny how some money rules can feel like absolute truth... until they don't. 

As we've learned more about personal finance — and lived a little more life — we've found ourselves changing our minds about advice we used to follow (sometimes, without question). Some of those rules helped us build great habits, while others eventually became more limiting than helpful.

In this episode, we're sharing ten money rules we've personally let go of over the years, from avoiding all debt and obsessing over lifestyle creep to believing you have to buy a house or put 20% down to be "good" with money. We talk about what changed our minds, where these rules can still be helpful, and why personal finance is often a lot more nuanced than the internet makes it seem.

✨ Episode Highlights ✨

• [00:00] Why we're revisiting the money rules we used to follow, and why it's okay for your financial philosophy to evolve
• [02:00] Why we no longer believe all debt is bad, and how low-interest debt can sometimes make financial sense
• [04:30] Our approach to using credit cards responsibly, and why avoiding them isn't always the best advice
• [06:00] Why waiting to invest until you're completely debt-free can cost you valuable time in the market
• [09:00] The difference between intentional lifestyle upgrades and keeping up with everyone else
• [12:00] Why we don't believe buying a home should be everyone's default financial goal (but it’s okay if it’s your goal) — and why renting can be a great choice for many
• [16:00] The truth about putting 20% down on a house and why many buyers take a different path
• [19:30] Why your emergency fund is meant to be used, and how to let go of the guilt when life happens
• [24:00] How our views on the FIRE movement have changed and why balance matters more than financial perfection
• [29:30] Why the "financially optimized" choice isn't always the right choice — and how talking openly about money can make all the difference

✨ Resources ✨

• Episode 70: Rethinking the Emergency Fund
• Episode 8: Debt 101: Is being in debt always bad?

Send us Fan Mail

📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter

💻Visit The Finance Girlies website: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/

💖Email us your money questions: 
[email protected]

📸Follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

We love a good “look at your numbers” moment — but what happens when you take it one step further and ask, does this actually reflect the life I want? 

In this re-release of a previously Insiders-only episode, we map our real-life spending against our core values. And honestly, it felt a little vulnerable.

We start by sharing our personal values, then break down exactly where our money went throughout the month. Finally, we talk through what felt aligned… and what didn’t. From therapy and travel to yoga memberships, beauty spending, and supporting local businesses, this conversation is equal parts practical and reflective — the kind that helps us zoom out and course-correct without shame.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing okay” with money but are still wondering if you’re actually making the most of it, this episode is for you.

✨ Episode Highlights ✨

• [01:30] Why we started by defining our core values before looking at a single dollar we spent.
• [05:00] A peek inside our real spending from the month — including rent, travel, groceries, therapy, and more.
• [12:30] The discretionary purchases that brought us the most joy — and the ones that made us pause.
• [14:00] How travel, yoga, therapy, and meaningful relationships showed up in our spending.
• [16:30] The purchases that didn't feel as aligned with our values, even if they weren't "bad" decisions.
• [19:30] Why some spending categories feel so emotionally loaded, and how we're learning to think about them differently.
• [25:30] From beauty routines to housing costs, we share the purchases we sometimes second-guess — without the shame.
• [31:00] The values we'd spend even more on if money weren't a limiting factor.
• [39:00] What this exercise revealed about our habits, plus the small course corrections we're making moving forward.
• [44:30] One simple question that can tell you far more than just tracking where your money goes.

✨ Resources ✨

• Ramit Sethi’s Rich Life Journal
• The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson
• You Don’t Need a Budget by Dana Miranda

Send us Fan Mail

WTF! Women Talk Finance breaks down the world of money. No jargon, no...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter

💻Visit The Finance Girlies website: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/

💖Email us your money questions: 
[email protected]

📸Follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

Some people color-code their budgets, reconcile every transaction, and genuinely enjoy a spreadsheet. Others would rather do just about anything else. If you've ever looked at someone else's budgeting system and thought, There's no way I could keep up with that, you’ll want to hear this conversation.

In this episode, we chat with budget strategy coach and host of The Budget Effect, Erin Britt, to unpack one big question: does your personality determine whether you'll be good at budgeting? We explore the strengths that both type A and type B personalities bring to money management, why flexibility matters more than perfection, and how to build a budgeting system that actually fits your life instead of forcing you into someone else's.

✨ Episode Highlights ✨

• [00:00] Why personality type has more to do with budgeting than you might think.
• [02:00] Can type B personalities actually budget? Why everyone needs a money system, even if you hate structure.
• [06:00] Breaking down the common traits of type A and type B personalities, plus how each one influences money habits.
• [09:30] Why traditional budgeting advice often feels designed for type A personalities — and what type B budgeters need instead.
• [11:30] The freedom of giving yourself permission to change your budget every month as your life changes.
• [16:30] Why personalizing your budget categories can make budgeting feel more motivating and aligned with your values.
• [19:00] Budget "rules" you can let go of, and why flexibility doesn't mean giving up financial boundaries.
• [23:30] How different budgeting styles — from detailed categories to broad spending buckets — can all be successful.
• [26:30] How to tell whether a budgeting method simply needs more practice or genuinely isn't the right fit for you.
• [32:00] What type A and type B personalities can learn from each other, and why comparison rarely helps your financial journey.

✨ Resources ✨

• Listen to Erin's podcast, The Budget Effect
• Visit The Budget Effect website: https://thebudgeteffect.com

Send us Fan Mail

WTF! Women Talk Finance breaks down the world of money. No jargon, no...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter

💻Visit The Finance Girlies website: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/

💖Email us your money questions: 
[email protected]

📸Follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

When it comes to retirement, one question comes up again and again: How much is actually enough? It’s common to see advice online that says to invest a certain amount every week, but it’s much harder to know whether that number will actually get you where you want to go.

In this episode, we break down one of the internet’s most common investing questions: Is investing $100 a week enough for retirement? We walk through the math behind what consistent investing can grow into over 20, 30, and 40 years, explain why time matters just as much as the amount you invest, and share a simple framework you can use to figure out whether you're on track for your own retirement goals.

If you've ever wondered how much you really need to retire — or worried that you're not investing enough — this episode will help you think through the numbers with more confidence and less overwhelm.

✨ Episode Highlights ✨

• [00:00] Is investing $100 a week enough to retire? The five factors that determine the answer.
• [02:30] How $100 a week can grow over 20, 30, and 40 years — and why time is your biggest advantage.
• [06:30] A simple way to calculate your retirement number using your expected annual spending and the rule of 25.
• [08:00] How Social Security and other income sources can reduce the amount you need to save on your own.
• [09:30] The retirement expenses people often forget to factor in — and the ones that may disappear altogether.
• [11:30] Why your retirement contributions don't have to be perfect to keep making meaningful progress.

✨ Resources ✨

• Investor.gov compound interest calculator
• Vanguard retirement expenses worksheet
• Retirement calculator (Merrill) 
• SSA.gov — My Social Security account
• Rule of 25 retirement planning framework

Send us Fan Mail

📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter

💻Visit The Finance Girlies website: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/

💖Email us your money questions: 
[email protected]

📸Follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

There’s no shortage of advice about the right way to use credit card points for travel. Transfer partners, sign-up bonuses, maximizing every redemption... it can start to feel like there’s a test you’re supposed to pass before you’re allowed to book a trip.

In this episode, we’re sharing a different perspective. We both recently used credit card points to book summer travel, and neither of us did it in the most optimized way. But instead of waiting until we knew every trick in the book, we used the points we had to save money on trips that mattered to us — and honestly, that felt like a win.

Today, we’re breaking down exactly what we booked, how many points we used, what those trips would have cost in cash, and why we ultimately chose simplicity over squeezing every last cent of value from our rewards. If you've ever wondered whether you're "doing points wrong," this episode is your reminder that sometimes, your financial goals matter more than perfect optimization.

✨ Episode Highlights ✨

• [00:00] Why we’re confessing our "imperfect" approach to using credit card points
• [02:50] Breaking down Cass’s last-minute trip to Toronto — flights, hotels, and how points covered nearly $2,000 in travel
• [07:15] Why Cassidy chose to redeem points through the Chase Travel portal, even though it's not the strategy most travel experts recommend
• [09:45] How Emily thought about buying a cross-country flight to Seattle while balancing other financial priorities
• [11:20] Using Google Flights, Points Path, and airline rewards programs to compare cash versus points
• [14:10] Why Emily intentionally ignored advice to pay cash and save points for later
• [15:20] How we earned our travel rewards through Chase, United, and Delta credit cards
• [17:00] What we’re still learning about transfer partners, airline loyalty, and maximizing points
• [18:00] Why the "best" redemption depends on your personal financial goals, not someone else's spreadsheet
• [19:10] Our biggest takeaway: using your points to reduce financial stress is a win, even if it isn't perfectly optimized

✨ Resources ✨

• Points & miles 101 with Ross Alcorn: Turn your credit card rewards into free travel / 52
• The freedom formula: How to travel, build a career, and save money with Caroline Lupini / 53
• Points Path 
• Google Flights

Send us Fan Mail

📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter

💻Visit The Finance Girlies website: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/

💖Email us your money questions: 
[email protected]

📸Follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

When you hear the word "sales," you might think of awkward pitches, pushy tactics, or convincing someone to buy something they don't want. But what if selling actually looked more like listening, building relationships, and creating opportunities for yourself?

In this episode, we talk to Megan Smyth, a sales coach and educator who helps female entrepreneurs sell without apology. We talk about why so many women struggle with sales, how our nervous systems shape the way we experience money conversations, and why learning to sell isn't just about earning more — it's about creating more freedom, stability, and confidence in your financial life.

✨ Episode Highlights ✨

• [00:00] How Megan went from copywriting to helping women sell in a way that feels authentic and empowering.
• [05:00] Why sales is one of the most valuable money skills you can build — especially if you work for yourself.
• [08:30] Why you don't need social media to build a successful business, plus alternative marketing strategies that actually work.
• [14:30] What's happening in your brain and body when you face a rejection, income dips, or scary money conversation.
• [19:30] Simple nervous system techniques that can help you feel calmer and more confident before high-pressure conversations.
• [22:00] Why leaving the traditional pre-med path changed Megan’s relationship with money, success, and identity.
• [25:30] How to stop tying your self-worth to your income and start setting financial goals from a place of freedom instead of fear.
• [30:00] Why great salespeople spend far more time listening than talking — and why empathy is your biggest advantage.
• [38:30] How learning to create your own income gives you more stability, confidence, and financial independence over the long term.

✨ Resources ✨

• Listen to Megan's podcast, Blaze
• Learn more about Megan's signature program, Sales Liberation 

Send us Fan Mail

WTF! Women Talk Finance breaks down the world of money. No jargon, no...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter

💻Visit The Finance Girlies website: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/

💖Email us your money questions: 
[email protected]

📸Follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

This episode was previously available exclusively to our paid subscribers and is now being released to all listeners. We’re excited to share it with all the girlies out there! 

--------

The trad wife lifestyle is being sold as soft, simple, and secure.

But is it financially safe?

In this episode, we unpack what the trad wife movement actually promotes, how it differs from choosing to stay home, and why financial autonomy still matters — even inside healthy marriages. We look at the influencer contradictions, the real risks of economic dependence, divorce statistics, and a powerful real-life story that shows how quickly financial control can escalate.

If you’ve felt curious about this trend — or quietly unsettled by it — this conversation will help you separate the aesthetic from the economics.

✨ Episode Timestamps ✨

• [00:00] Why the trad wife lifestyle took off
• [03:30] What is a trad wife — and where did this movement come from?
• [07:30] Trad wife vs. stay-at-home mom: What’s the difference?
• [09:30] The influencer contradiction and the “not working” illusion
• [12:30] Traditional Christian ideology and submission rhetoric
• [15:00] Why this movement can create financial vulnerability
• [20:00] Divorce, asset division, and the risk of economic dependence
• [22:00] A Well-Trained Wife and a real story of financial control
• [26:30] How to protect yourself financially in any marriage

✨ Resources ✨ 

• PBS special: Trad Wives vs. Reality
• Money with Katie podcast episode featuring Caroline Burke on the trad wife movement
• A Well-Trained Wife by Tia Levings
• TFG episode: Prenups for modern couples with divorce attorney Aaron Thomas
• TFG episode: Navigating money as a wife, mom, and breadwinner with Jessica Norwood

Send us Fan Mail

📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter

💻Visit The Finance Girlies website: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/

💖Email us your money questions: 
[email protected]

📸Follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

Have you ever felt guilty for spending money on something you love, but thought nothing of spending money on something you felt like you should do?

Or found yourself thinking, "I'm just bad with money"?

In this episode, we're joined by financial wellness coach Simone Griffin-Taylor for a conversation about the emotional side of personal finance. We explore why money decisions are rarely as logical as we think, how shame and self-judgment can show up in our financial lives, and why understanding your values may be more important than following someone else's money rules.

From homebuying and travel to dining out and even buying Kleenex, this episode is full of real-life examples that will help you get curious about your spending habits, challenge old money stories, and make financial decisions that feel more aligned with the life you actually want to live.

✨ Episode Highlights ✨

• [03:00] Why emotions influence nearly every financial decision we make
• [05:00] How shame shows up in our money lives—and how to recognize it
• [08:30] The difference between "I made a mistake" and "I am bad with money"
• [12:00] Why self-compassion can be a powerful financial tool
• [17:00] The danger of comparing your financial life to someone else's timeline
• [20:00] Simone's framework for reconnecting with your financial intuition
• [24:00] How to identify your core values and use them to guide money decisions
• [30:00] Why two people can share the same values but spend money very differently
• [35:00] What people judge themselves for financially that is actually completely normal
• [39:00] Cassidy's surprisingly strong opinions about the value of Kleenex and coat hangers
• [43:00] How old money stories continue to influence our spending decisions

✨ Resources ✨

• Connect with Simone: affluencereimagined.com 
• Follow Simone on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/simone-griffin/ 

Send us Fan Mail

WTF! Women Talk Finance breaks down the world of money. No jargon, no...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter

💻Visit The Finance Girlies website: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/

💖Email us your money questions: 
[email protected]

📸Follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

When your income isn't predictable, it can be hard to know whether a slow season is just part of the process or a sign that something needs to change. And when so much financial advice assumes the same paycheck shows up every two weeks, navigating those ups and downs can feel even more frustrating.

In this episode, we're diving into Cassidy's freelance business and taking a transparent look at what her year has actually looked like behind the scenes. After experiencing one of her lowest earning months since becoming a freelancer, she decided to stop waiting for things to turn around and start taking action. 

Listen in to hear about the mindset shifts, money strategies, and business decisions that helped her go from a $3k month to a $17k month — plus the single practice that made her lower-earning months mildly annoying instead of panic-inducing.

✨ Episode Highlights ✨

• [02:00] The reality check that forced a hard look at what was (and wasn't) working in Cassidy’s business
• [04:30] The mindset shift that led her to start pitching clients again after years of relying on referrals
• [05:30] How one vulnerable LinkedIn post turned into a major freelance opportunity
• [07:30] What it felt like to watch savings shrink during a prolonged slow season
• [09:00] Why financial independence is about more than just the numbers for Cassidy
• [12:30] The surprising benefits that came from having less work on the calendar
• [14:00] How a cash cushion helped smooth out months of unpredictable income
• [19:00] The real reasons Cassidy wanted to earn more money again
• [22:00] The challenge of knowing when to stop saying yes to more work
• [33:30] Cassidy's biggest lessons from going from one of her slowest months to one of her strongest

✨ Resources ✨

• Listen to Finance Girlies episode 74 with Arden Missal
• Are you a business owner struggling to stay on top of the books and pay quarterly taxes? Collective can do it for you.* 

*This is an affiliate link, meaning we may earn a commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase using our link. Our promise: We’ll never share affiliate links for products or services we don’t love and recommend. 

Send us Fan Mail

WTF! Women Talk Finance breaks down the world of money. No jargon, no...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter

💻Visit The Finance Girlies website: 
https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/

💖Email us your money questions: 
[email protected]

📸Follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/